Christmas Day Reflection

Merry Christmas students, faculty, staff, and friends of the St. Mary’s Community! You have been preparing for Christmas Day to some extent; if you have been keeping up with this blog you have been specifically reflecting on “Maranatha, Come, O Lord!” What a great way to keep Christ in Christmas!

So where do I start? Today, I know the Lord has come. For clarification, I will referrer to the Lord as: Jesus, Christ, Jesus Christ, and our Savior. So now, let me dig myself out of this whirl of Secret Santas, cookie parties, final papers, exams, saying goodbye to friends, and re-connecting with at home. Phew! Often, I have a hard time focusing on what should be the center of any celebration. In this case, the celebration is Christmas day! But what exactly does this mean? Please join me in prayer as we reflect on the simple sentence below.

“Only when Christ is formed in us will the mystery of Christmas be fulfilled in us.”

-The Catechism of the Catholic Church

“The Christmas Mystery 526”

Does this mean that we have to have an active relationship with Christ to celebrate Christmas? Doesn’t Christmas just happen?

I plan to go to Mass with my family, I am going to exchange gifts with my loved ones, and I have given to the poor. Is that enough?

No, I don’t think that it is. Let us review what happened on the first Christmas day. Our Lord and Savior was born of a virgin named Mary. Mary’s husband Joseph was a carpenter, and both were poor. Our Lord Jesus was born in a manger. A manger is a feeding trough for barn animals. This is not very romantic, right? Why would our Lord be so humbled?

Jesus was born to offer us salvation! He loved us so much that He embodied human suffering to give us life. Jesus took part in our humanity and in our suffering so that we could take part in His divinity. Every time you feel doubt or hurt, you can be comforted with the fact that Jesus felt it all. Rest in this and continue to seek out His divinity, and you will be at peace. This, my friends, is the mystery of Christmas. This is what we must reflect on, live out, and share with others, especially on this day. While many believers take this mystery for granted, it is the source of doubt for many unbelievers. The love is just too difficult to understand.

Let us challenge each other and challenge ourselves personally to allow Christ to be formed in each other and in us. Please re-read the previous sentence.

“Only when Christ is formed in us will the mystery of Christmas be fulfilled in us.”

-The Catechism of the Catholic Church

“The Christmas Mystery 526”

In sharing the Christmas mystery with your own community, I challenge you not just to say Merry Christmas, but to allow Christ to be formed within yourself and let this shine. Only with this enthusiasm and active participation can you do your part to keep Christ in Christmas.

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About I.Q.

Irene began working with St. Mary's University in August of 2008. She currently serves as the Minister for Faith Formation and Faith Enrichment with University Ministry and as adjunct faculty with the Theology Department. Irene holds a M.A. in Systematic & Philosophical Theology and Ethics & Social Theory. As well as a B.A. in Religious Studies and Philosophy.

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